Kity k5

[Lons]

Hi Rod

Are you sure it's a K5 machine you have?
The K5 concept was a combination of small seperate machines mounted on a table and operated by one central motor and as far as I know only one common belt. My 1980s machine and the later (green) Bestcombi are certainly that and I'm almost 100% sure the early ones were as well.
It sounds as if you might have either an unusual setup or more likely a version of the larger machine of which there were 4 or 5 versions depending on which machines were supplied. It was a similar principle but could be converted for each machine to operated individually with it's own moter at a later date. In fact Kity advertised this as the only machine on the market with this facility. They later consolodated the range with the K704 followed by the CK26 and direct drive models.
I have some old brochures and leaflets packed away including a general brochure from around 1980 / 81 ish so will have a look when i get a chance.

I'm puzzled and curious. If you post a couple of pics I can probably tell you.

cheers
Bob

 

[powertools]

My machine is from the late 1970's and has separate machines mounted on a table around a central motor and each machine has a separate belt and all are different lengths.

 

[blackrodd]

Hi Rod

Are you sure it's a K5 machine you have?
The K5 concept was a combination of small seperate machines mounted on a table and operated by one central motor and as far as I know only one common belt. My 1980s machine and the later (green) Bestcombi are certainly that and I'm almost 100% sure the early ones were as well.
It sounds as if you might have either an unusual setup or more likely a version of the larger machine of which there were 4 or 5 versions depending on which machines were supplied. It was a similar principle but could be converted for each machine to operated individually with it's own moter at a later date. In fact Kity advertised this as the only machine on the market with this facility. They later consolodated the range with the K704 followed by the CK26 and direct drive models.
I have some old brochures and leaflets packed away including a general brochure from around 1980 / 81 ish so will have a look when i get a chance.

I'm puzzled and curious. If you post a couple of pics I can probably tell you.

cheers
Bob

Thanks for the reply, Lons.
My machine is a Woodmen K5, It has 4 splayed legs finished in white, woodmen logo on the side.
It has 1979 on the motor plate and the guarding is yellow and the entire bench is obviously Kity
the spindle moulder has, I think a 20mm shaft, with slotted collars, and not the usual 30mm shaft.
6"x 4" planer thicknesser, with 530x6 mm flat belt driving the chain for the feed rollers.
The motor is mounted on the saw base plate and has a lever to slacken and tension each belt. pulleys on 1 end.
Under the lever, It has teeth in the manor of a comb to hold the lever in place keeping the belt tensioned.
I bought it initially to help a friend complete a self build, my dad had a CK26 up till 2006, I'm finding the small size and mobility very usefull and I think I'll keep it, lovely for small stuff!.
4 new spindle cutters and 2 new Freud saw blades came with it and the HSS planer irons are new in the block!
I just need some flat drive belts. (Boo Hoo)! Any help would be greatfully received.
Regards Rodders

 

[Lons]

Hi Rod and powertools

Well you learn something new every day! I stand humbly corrected and in the corner with my D hat on. #-o The only defence / excuse I have is that they were before my time (and them wallas from Kity gave me bum info :lol: )

My curiosity suitably piqued, I delved into the dark corners of my archive (box in the loft ) and retrieved an original Kity K5 brochure of the "splayed legs" version. Your woodman K5 either pre-dates this or was sold alongside as another brand I think.

Later K5s, rectangular table type definately had a single belt systen, no lever and adjustment was made to belt tension when polsitioning the individual machines. (Until someone corrects me on that of course :lol: )

It's only a 4 page brochure and is very vague about the belt system, not mentioning how many ....but, crucially there is info on the back page which might help.
i.e.
* Circ. saw belt = 710 x 15 (normal speed) or 750 x 15 (fast speed) - dunno what that means!
* Spindle moulder belt = 710 x 15
* Planer belt = 560 x 15
* Thicknesser belt = 530 x 06

Pics as below.
.

.

.

.


cheers
Bob

 

[blackrodd]

Hello Lons, many thanks for the reply.
That's the one!
Another mystery solved!
Made I was told by Kity and sold under the Woodmen banner, I have no idea when Woodmen packed up.
I'll get that material you have sent copied and I'll have something to refer to in future use.
There was a later model Woodmen with the squarer base legs and red guarding in place of the earlier yellow.
I understand There were other differences, one being the larger 30mm spindle shaft.

There are 3 steps to the flat belt pulley, smallest on the inside and the saw could run from the smallest driven pulley, or the middle one, hence the two saw bench belt lengths.
Regards and thanks again, Rodders

 

[Lons]

No probs - pleased to help.

If Kity made the Woodmen then it wood have been identical to the Kity model as they wouldn't have changed the production tooling. the K5 when it changed from the splayed leg version was made with a 20mm spindle shaft and only changed to 30mm when re-badged as Bestcombi around 1988 / 1989 though I believe there were a few slipped through in the old colours as it changed over which made confused matters. Frame colours at that time changed from beige to green.
The next version of the Bestcombi after that was a different machine altogether and they introduced a Bestcombi 2000.

Bob

 

[Myfordman]

Poly Vee belts run on their back make very usable substitutes for flat belts.

J series belts have a vee pitch of 2.3mm so buying a J8 belt and slicing off one vee will give marginally wider than 16mm.

MM

 

[blackrodd]

Poly Vee belts run on their back make very usable substitutes for flat belts.

J series belts have a vee pitch of 2.3mm so buying a J8 belt and slicing off one vee will give marginally wider than 16mm.

MM

Myfordman thanks for the post. I had to take the machines off the bench as it came in a well constructed crate. and i couldn't lift it on my own.
After checking and oiling i have re fitted each unit where it (originally)? was, to my pencil lines.
Test running showed adjustments necessary on the planer thicknesser, for the 2mm flat belts to run straight and not rub against the side of the stepped up pulley, in conjunction with the saw bench-mounted motor.
Flat belts run clear now but I have only just enough room to fit/remove these 2mm belts in the small gap between the pulley end and plastic guard in front of the roller feed.
So my concern is that the belts you have suggested are thicker and mean lining everything up anew, or try and get original belts, if possible.
Plus these belts should be the exact length as specified as the arm that slackens and tensions the belt tensions by way of a "ratchet" arrangement, as in a comb, thereby locking the belt in tension.
Regards Rodders

 

[Myfordman]

My Kity (ck26) was nothing like as critical on belt dimensions as yours appears to be and worked fine with out any preset tensioners.
I still have the spindle moulder and run that with a HTD belt running on its back.
I've still got original Kity belts made by Kleber* but they are 20mm wide and no good to you as samples. I can't really see why the belt maker wants samples and can't work from dimensions including the smallest pulley diameter to judge the flexibility.

MM

* Marked as "Speedflex type 1" if that helps?

They have 3 layers of fabric in thelayup of the belt and like yours are 2mm thick

 

[Lons]

I can't really see why the belt maker wants samples and can't work from dimensions including the smallest pulley diameter to judge the flexibility.MM

My thinking also.

All he needs surely are the dimensions (which I've given) and perhaps the diameter of the pulleys and speed of the motor if he needs to calculate stresses.

Bob

 

[blackrodd]

My Kity (ck26) was nothing like as critical on belt dimensions as yours appears to be and worked fine with out any preset tensioners.
I still have the spindle moulder and run that with a HTD belt running on its back.
I've still got original Kity belts made by Kleber* but they are 20mm wide and no good to you as samples. I can't really see why the belt maker wants samples and can't work from dimensions including the smallest pulley diameter to judge the flexibility.

MM

* Marked as "Speedflex type 1" if that helps?

They have 3 layers of fabric in thelayup of the belt and like yours are 2mm thick

Thanks for the reply MM and Lons.
20mm belts would work, If you can be parted from them, what lengths are they?
Well said there! If the belt isn't exactly the right length the tension arm slips back into the next groove or slot and we have the dreaded belt slip. At the moment i have a piece of 15mm log lap and its just the right size to keep tbe belt tensioned, but a real pain to extract. 710mm is the main saw belt length.
Many thanks Regards Rodders

 

[Lons]

Thanks for the reply MM and Lons.
20mm belts would work, If you can be parted from them, what lengths are they?
Well said there! If the belt isn't exactly the right length the tension arm slips back into the next groove or slot and we have the dreaded belt slip. At the moment i have a piece of 15mm log lap and its just the right size to keep tbe belt tensioned, but a real pain to extract. 710mm is the main saw belt length.
Many thanks Regards Rodders

Rod

Check my earlier post on this thread where I posted scans of the early K5 brochure.
I listed the belt sizes as shown on the back page of the brochure. They were direct replacements from Kity so should be exact and all the info you need.

Bob

 

[blackrodd]

Thanks for the reply Lons, As you say all the info is on the post mentioned, I believe that my saw belt was left for some time (years)! tensioned, so is now easily stretched when it gets warm, about 2 or 3 minutes.
Many thanks again for that excellent information you posted. Regards Rodders